adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第177章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
slept in the cottage since that night after Thias’s death； when； you
remember； Lisbeth praised her deft movements and even gave a
modified approval to her porridge。 But in that long interval Dinah
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 644…
Adam Bede 644
had made great advances in household cleverness； and this
morning； since Seth was there to help； she was bent on bringing
everything to a pitch of cleanliness and order that would have
satisfied her Aunt Poyser。 The cottage was far from that standard
at present； for Lisbeth’s rheumatism had forced her to give up her
old habits of dilettante scouring and polishing。 When the kitchen
was to her mind； Dinah went into the new room； where Adam had
been writing the night before； to see what sweeping and dusting
were needed there。 She opened the window and let in the fresh
morning air； and the smell of the sweet…brier； and the bright low…
slanting rays of the early sun； which made a glory about her pale
face and pale auburn hair as she held the long brush； and swept；
singing to herself in a very low tone—like a sweet summer
murmur that you have to listen for very closely—one of Charles
Wesley’s hymns：
“Eternal Beam of Light Divine；
Fountain of unexhausted love；
In whom the Father’s glories shine；
Through earth beneath and heaven above；
Jesus！ the weary wanderer’s rest；
Give me thy easy yoke to bear；
With steadfast patience arm my breast；
With spotless love and holy fear。
Speak to my warring passions； “Peace！”
Say to my trembling heart； “Be still！”
Thy power my strength and fortress is；
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 645…
Adam Bede 645
For all things serve thy sovereign will。
She laid by the brush and took up the duster； and if you had
ever lived in Mrs。 Poyser’s household； you would know how the
duster behaved in Dinah’s hand—how it went into every small
corner； and on every ledge in and out of sight—how it went again
and again round every bar of the chairs； and every leg； and under
and over everything that lay on the table； till it came to Adam’s
papers and rulers and the open desk near them。 Dinah dusted up
to the very edge of these and then hesitated； looking at them with
a longing but timid eye。 It was painful to see how much dust there
was among them。 As she was looking in this way； she heard Seth’s
step just outside the open door； towards which her back was
turned； and said； raising her clear treble；
“Seth； is your brother wrathful when his papers are stirred？”
“Yes； very； when they are not put back in the right places；” said
a deep strong voice； not Seth’s。
It was as if Dinah had put her hands unawares on a vibrating
chord。 She was shaken with an intense thrill； and for the instant
felt nothing else； then she knew her cheeks were glowing； and
dared not look round； but stood still； distressed because she could
not say good…morning in a friendly way。 Adam； finding that she
did not look round so as to see the smile on his face； was afraid she
had thought him serious about his wrathfulness； and went up to
her； so that she was obliged to look at him。
“What！ You think I’m a cross fellow at home； Dinah？” he said；
smilingly。
“Nay；” said Dinah； looking up with timid eyes； “not so。 But you
might be put about by finding things meddled with； and even the
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 646…
Adam Bede 646
man Moses； the meekest of men； was wrathful sometimes。”
“Come； then；” said Adam； looking at her affectionately； “I’ll
help you move the things； and put ’em back again； and then they
can’t get wrong。 You’re getting to be your aunt’s own niece； I see；
for particularness。”
They began their little task together； but Dinah had not
recovered herself sufficiently to think of any remark； and Adam
looked at her uneasily。 Dinah； he thought； had seemed to
disapprove him somehow lately； she had not been so kind and
open to him as she used to be。 He wanted her to look at him； and
be as pleased as he was himself with doing this bit of playful work。
But Dinah did not look at him—it was easy for her to avoid looking
at the tall man—and when at last there was no more dusting to be
done and no further excuse for him to linger near her； he could
bear it no longer； and said； in rather a pleading tone； “Dinah；
you’re not displeased with me for anything； are you？ I’ve not said
or done anything to make you think ill of me？”
The question surprised her； and relieved her by giving a new
course to her feeling。 She looked up at him now； quite earnestly；
almost with the tears coming； and said； “Oh； no； Adam！ how could
you think so？”
“I couldn’t bear you not to feel as much a friend to me as I do to
you；” said Adam。 “And you don’t know the value I set on the very
thought of you； Dinah。 That was what I meant yesterday； when I
said I’d be content for you to go； if you thought right。 I meant； the
thought of you was worth so much to me； I should feel I ought to
be thankful； and not grumble； if you see right to go away。 You
know I do mind parting with you； Dinah？”
“Yes； dear friend；” said Dinah； trembling； but trying to speak
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 647…
Adam Bede 647
calmly； “I know you have a brother’s heart towards me； and we
shall often be with one another in spirit； but at this season I am in
heaviness through manifold temptations。 You must not mark me。 I
feel called to leave my kindred for a while； but it is a trial—the
flesh is weak。”
Adam saw that it pained her to be obliged to answer。
“I hurt you by talking about it； Dinah；” he said。 “I’ll say no
more。 Let’s see if Seth’s ready with breakfast now。”
That is a simple scene； reader。 But it is almost certain that you；
too； have been in love—perhaps； even； more than once； though
you may not choose to say so to all your feminine friends。 If so； you
will no more think the slight words； the timid looks； the tremulous
touches； by which two human souls approach each other
gradually； like two little quivering rain…streams； before they
mingle into one—you will no more think these things trivial than
you will think the first…detected signs of coming spring trivial；
though they be but a faint indescribable something in the air and
in the song of the birds； and the tiniest perceptible budding on the
hedge…row branches。 Those slight words and
